And That's a Wrap!

The view from the deck looking towards the PEI ferry.

The 15th Mayflower Quilter's Retreat is one for the record books now. After 30 years of organizing, fine tuning and fund raising, we can now look forward to a new beginning of sorts. I have only missed one Retreat (due to a family wedding) and have been at the helm of 13 of the 15 Retreats. the time has come to pass it on and hopefully it will run for another 30 years. There is so much more to learn, new teachers to bring to NS and we need to introduce new, young quilters to the Retreat concept. I am thrilled that the Retreat is going to continue in the excellent hands of Ann Carmichael. 

As I processed the pictures from this 15th Retreat, I thought of all the changes the quilt world has experienced in the last 30 years. how we have gone from templates and scissors to fancy rulers and rotary cutters not to mention how computers have changed our world! How lucky we are, those of us who have a good 30+ years of quilting in, to have experienced and embraced all these changes. there is still so much to learn, so much to share.

Barb M under our guardian moose in the main dning room at Pictou Lodge.

This Retreat was special, Pictou Lodge has been our "home" for every Retreat. we have gone through several owners, many changes in staff and changes in event managers. The latest, Karen Wolff just started in June and did a superb job. I think we initiated her well!

Laurie Swim, Ana Buzzalino and Karen Kay Buckley

Our teachers were all first timers! Karen Kay Buckley from Pennsylvania, Ana Buzzalino from Calgary and Laurie Swim from Lunenburg. Just over one third of our quilters were also first timers. Two of the 63 quilters, Kay S and Barb M have been to every Retreat! Such dedication!

 

Our Avonport Young Quilter Scholarship winner settled in just fine and I know from the smile of her face (for the entire Retreat!) was one of sheer happiness. I think Heather learned a lot and had a great time. We would love to have her come back.

Our fund raising efforts have begun for the 2017 Retreat, many thanks to all those who donated to the auction and those who made purchases as well as our silent auction. We are off to a good start!

There are lots of pictures in our photo albums, be sure and click on the link at the top right hand side under Retreat Memories.

The 14th Quilter's Retreat

The calm at Pictou Lodge

Another Retreat has come and gone. We had another wonderful time with some pretty wonderful quilters. The days flew by all too fast. The classrooms were a beehive of activity and creativity, conversation and quiet. The weather was great for arrival day, then we had two days of wind and rain (no hurricanes this year and no snow). Then we had two wonderful days of sunshine and blue skies.

Penny and Cheryl

We were delighted to have Penny Berens from Granville Ferry, NS and Cheryl Arkison from Calgary AB with us this year as our teachers. It was wonderful to see their workshop show and tell on the last night and see how much everyone accomplished, truly impressive. We were saddened that Karen Neary could not be with us this year due to a death in her family. We all send our sincere sympathies and hope to have her with us at a Retreat in the near future.

The Retreat happens thanks to the help of many both in the two years it takes to plan and organize and the 5 days at Pictou Lodge. For one reason or another many of our committee could not be with us this year. Meredith and Ann worked hard and lent their support many times, I could not have managed without them, I am so grateful for their support. Jamie jumped in the last few months and took on several jobs. Once at the Retreat Davida and her sister Jeanne Kay helped with the seating plan for dinner, Barb M and Kay looked after the table favours, putting them out at each meal. Thanks to all who donated the favours - Barb and Kay, Gerri and Beth, Marie, Rhoda Moore (from Trend Tex Fabrics). Meredith and Ann were joined by Diane to manage the sale tables of books, magazines and fabrics. Rosemary, Isabel, Joan and Anne looked after the auction (fund raising for the 2015 Retreat) and Linda, Linnet and Jamie managed the silent auction table. Patsy, Bev, Debbie P and Debbie V managed the draws for door prizes and distributed them each night. Anne MR, Tina, Sandi and Deb P organized the fascinator challenge parade on the final night and teachers Cheryl and Penny along with our vendor Jacquie were the judges. I am sure I have forgotten someone - it sure is testament to that old saying that many hands make light work! Please see the previous post for a list of our door prize donors! More thanks there!

Many, many thanks to Jacquie Gillis and Monica from the Mira Stitch 'N Post Quilt Shop in Sydney, Cape Breton who came to the Retreat to be our vendor with a one ton truck loaded with all sorts of goodies and $3/m fabric. And they jumped in to help with the show and tell.

Wes visits Penny's workshop.

The staff at Pictou Lodge is the best! From Wes, the manager to Amanda our event co-ordinator to Chef Thomas and his staff in the kitchen to Sharon, Joanne and all the wait staff as well as the housekeepers and grounds staff. Everyone always had a smile and were all interested in what we do and ready to help when asked. I think we are a bit of a change from their usual conferences and meetings!

Krystal, Kelly and Debbie - our Avonport Award Scholarship winners.

I had many special moments, I think one of the best for me was seeing our three Avonport Award Scholarship winners together and having such a great time. Krystal form 2009, Kelly from 2011 and this year's winner Debbie. The criteria for the scholarship is to be under 40 and keen to learn about quilting. All expenses are covered (except supplies) and we are thrilled to be able to offer the scholarship again in 2015 thanks to Faye at Avonport Discount Fabrics.

Be sure and check our Photo Albums, the link is to the right. I have organized the pictures into 3 categoreis - the 2013 Retreat, the Fascinator Challenge and Workshops. Thanks again to Lorna for sharing her pictures with us too.

As I went through the 500+ pictures I took, then went through Lorna's pictures (thanks Lorna!) I could not but help to think about the future of the Retreat. I was almost 30 years younger when I had this brilliant idea to have a Retreat. I hope we can muster a committee together for another one. I hope there is enough interest and people willing to carry on for many years to come.

The chairs wait for us to come back September 23 - 27, 2015.

A Week To Go!

 Patsy at work in the Rotunda 

We really are getting down to the last details. It has been a hectic summer and I apologize for not being here more often. After 17 years in our old huse we have made the move to the beautiful town of Mahone Bay. It has been exciting but exhausting and we are still getting settled, dealing with electricians, plumbers, carpenters and I am listening to the drilling in the basement as I write, the old oil tank has to be replaced! Yes, we have bought another old (145 years) house.

Meredith, Ann and I have been "the" committee this year with much appreciated help from Jamie, Faye and Katherine. We are hoping we haven't forgotten anything! Yes, we have done this 13 times before but each year there is something different. This year we have had changes at Pictou Lodge to deal with and thanks to Amanda, the amazing events coordinator we are going to be well taken care of.

Pre dinner gathering on the verandah at Pictou Lodge

We have also had to reorganize a bit when Karen Neary had to cancel her workshop due to family illness. We completely understand Karen's situation and we hope that she will be back to teach at our Retreat soon. We tried to find a replacement but everyone we looked at was already booked. So, thanks to the cooperation of everyone who was booked in her class we are going ahead with just 2 teachers (Cheryl Arkison and Penny Berens) and the independent study. No one opted out, everyone took a second choice. Thank you to all who changed their workshop. We know you will still have a wonderful time and learn a lot!

All set up for our "progressive show and tell" with mary's selvedge quilt on the wall.

Now, if I can just find my rotary cutter and my favourite scissors I will be happy!

The Countdown Is On!

Yes, the countdown is on for the 2013 Mayflower Quilter's Retreat at Pictou Lodge, just a mere 10 weeks to go till the quilters invade Pictou Lodge! Some of the committee visited Pictou Lodge this week to finalize a few details and have a tour around to see some of the changes and upgrades. I think you will all be quite thrilled.

The new bikes are ready and waiting if you feel a need to go for an explore around the Lodge property.

The Adirondack chairs are ready and waiting if you want to sit by the Northumberland Shore, a great place to do some handwork!

Every cabin has new beds, new linens, fresh coats of paint, new furniture and lighting fixtures just to name a few things! Love that fabric!

There is a new chef this year, Chef Thomas and if our lunch is any indication, the food is going to wonderful! Chef Courtney who had been at the Lodge for many of our Retreats is on maternity leave!

We are so pleased that we have a full Retreat again this year, classes are full! We are grateful to everyone who keeps coming back and we look forward to meeting those quilters who are coming for a first time.

We are also pleased to welcome our new merchant to the Retreat this year. Jacque from the Mira Stitch 'n Post will be with us, can't wait to meet her and see the goodies she is bringing.

Moving Along

It has been 4 months since we all said goodbye at Pictou Lodge but the committee has been working away, looking for teachers for 2013 and making plans. Mark your calendar for September 25 - 29, 2013. Registration information will be available in January 2013, with registration starting in March 2013.

Remember this sign? One of the mobile kitchens set up beside the Lodge as a temporary kitchen after the devastating kitchen fire that they had in June. Under the circumstances the staff did a wonderful job keeping us fed with delicious meals. Well, reconstruction has begun. If you are on Facebook you can follow along on the building progress, search for for Pictou Lodge Beachfront Resort or go to Pictou Lodge and click on the "follow us" button for Facebook. They are regularly sharing pictures of the kitchen rebuild. We will all breathe a sigh of relief when they open again in the spring.